An 88-year-old Arnold man lost $3,000 in a phone scam, which led him to send a money order to someone in Jamaica. The scammer allegedly claimed to be “the police” and told the victim he would be sending the money to Johnny Carson’s son, Arnold Police reported.
The scammer also allegedly told the victim that after he sent the money, he would be able to collect a $150,000 cash prize and a new Ford Explorer. The victim told authorities he received the call on Dec. 19, telling him he had won a Reader’s Digest contest, but that he had to send the money to cover the taxes for the prizes, the report said.
On Dec. 26, after the victim grew concerned because he had not received his prizes, he contacted Arnold Police. As of Jan. 7, the money had not been returned to the man, Lt. Clinton Wooldridge said.
He also said there had been no similar reports from others in the area about that kind of scam.